Joseph E. Shumate

Joseph Edward Shumate, one of four children of Huey Willard Shumate and Irene Mary (Loudy) Shumate, was born in Concho, West Virginia on September 17, 1931. He attended school in Minden, West Virginia, and at age 19, joined the United States Air Force. Joe was stationed in Greenland and assigned to the motor pool as a mechanic. Later, he was stationed at the Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, when he met his future wife, Charlene Ann Chilson, who was stationed at Elgin.

The couple was married at Pascagoula, Mississippi on March 12, 1955. They made their home in Niceville, Florida before moving to Oak Hill, West Virginia, where he and Charlene attended Beckley College. While in West Virginia, Joe owned a service station. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Suzann JoAnne and Joseph Edward, Jr. In 1961, the family moved to Carson, Iowa where Joe did carpenter work and Charlene taught at the Carson-Macedonia School.

Joe and Charlene attended the Carson United Methodist Church and Joe was a member of the Coral Masonic Lodge 430 in Carson. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, building furniture, traveling and camping with his family. Joe also sang and played guitar in a country western band. He liked local politics and served on Carson's City Council for eight years and as Mayor from 1996 to 1998.

Joe and Charlene were married 55 years when Charlene died on May 24, 2010. In July, Joe began physical therapy at the Oakland Manor Care Center in Oakland, Iowa. Joe passed away at the Oakland Manor on August 22, 2010, at the age of 78 years, 11 months, and 5 days.

In addition to his wife, Joe was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law Duane Hartman.

Joe is survived by his daughter, Suzann Duede of Carson; son, Joseph Shumate, Jr. of La Follette, TN; three grandchildren, Rachel Richardson and husband Todd and their children, Ayla and Bailey, of Carson, Ryan Duede and wife Brianne and their children, Caitlin and Aiden, of Carson, and Annalise Shumate of Tennessee; sisters, Mildred Jones and husband Kenny of La Follette, TN, and Pearl Fleagle and husband Vic of Bradford, Ohio; brother Vernon Shumate of Cleveland, OH; brother-in-law Darrell Chilson and wife Alta of Norman, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Shirley Hartman of Macedonia, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

A memorial fund has been established.